Natural forms

This post shows the development of an earlier project of mine where I studied natural forms. The first piece is a pencil observational study of a flower. It was a a very time-consuming process involving precise consideration with both pencil and eraser to create natural looking areas of light and shade.

Pencil Observation - A2 paper

These two pieces are design developments from the previous observation. The first by selecting an area of the observation and layering it in the form of a Lino Print. The second piece is an extension of this by using a range of mark making techniques on each 'leaf' of the observation. This gives the piece a high amount of range in texture through the varied use of media and experimental processes.

Lino Print from Observation - 10 inch x 7 inch

Collage of Mark-Making from Observation - A2 paper

This was the final piece of this project. A ceramic form made with Raku clay using a coil technique. The on-lay is used to create the image of leaves overlapping one another which I gained inspiration for from the earlier observation. I used an iron oxide before it was fired for a final time to create the medium browns of the main body and the dark brown of the on-lay. 

Raku clay Ceramic Pot - 18 inch height, 12 inch diameter

Spray Paint Stencils

This is where my stencilling designs have developed into more complex and experimental design ideas. By using a photograph of a building I passed by en route to the Manchester Metropolitan University open day I selectively cut out areas to show this structure from a realistic perspective in an abstract form. The overlapping of shapes is an emulation of the style of Lucinda Rogers which works effectively to give the piece additional abstract qualities. 

Spray Paint Stencil - A1 paper

This is an extension of my entire developmental designs. I have incorporated spray paint stencils, silhouette stencils and etchings together to create this collaboration, bringing all of my ideas together, overlapping them to compliment one another. This collage will most definitely be one of my main inspirations when moving on to my final piece in 2014. 

Spray Paint Stencil, Silhouette Stencil and Etching Collage - A1 paper

Stencils

Another part of the development process in my project was experimenting with stencils. These first two examples of this are done by using hardly any acrylic paint on the end of a varnish brush, with firm vertical brush strokes creating a simple yet affective blend. The darkest areas around the outsides of the silhouette against the whitest areas being the silhouette make them bold and firm as a Cityscape should be. This has shown me how accurate and helpful stencils can be. 

Silhouette Stencil 1 - A3 paper

Silhouette Stencil 2 - A3 paper

This is an extension on the use of stencils, this time created using watered down acrylic paint sprayed over a silhouette Cityscape stencil on black sugar paper. 

Silhouette Stencil 3 - A3 paper

Etchings

From gathering inspiration from Artist References I began putting together design ideas through experimentation and development of processes. These are two etchings I created from a Cityscape silhouette and some of the photos I took of nuts and bolts amongst the Cityscape. This plays on the way i described the pictures as I feel the arrangements of nuts and bolts emulate buildings in a futuristic form. 

1st Etching Design idea - A3 paper

Background made by dripping ink and letting it run

2nd Etching Design Idea - A3 paper

Background made by spraying ink and letting it run 

Additional Artist References

Georgia O'Keeffe was another artists work I studied and took inspiration from in my Cityscapes project. This piece is called 'East River From The Shelton' a rare insight to O'Keeffe's urban Cityscapes work as she is known for her natural forms. This recreation was done in water colour and chalk pastels. It was a challenge to perfect the blending in the sky but the combination of water colours and chalk made this easier. 

Water Colour and Chalk Artist Reference 10 inch x 7 inch

Lucinda Rogers was also an artist I studied for this project. I recreated two of her pieces which both demonstrate her simple, unique, linear style. I recreated this style with fine liner marker pen and in the first Lucinda Rogers Artist Reference below, I used watercolour for the areas of light blue.

1st Lucinda Rogers Artist Reference - A3 paper

2nd Lucinda Rogers Artist Reference - A3 Paper

Paul Brent

Paul Brent was one of my first inspirations to explore Cityscape art. This led me to the analysis and recreation of his work. In the artist reference section of my project I explored a selection of 3 of Paul Brent's Cityscape exhibition.

Firstly the 'Green Cityscape' which I recreated using inks in the background and a fine liner marker pen with a cross hatched technique for the buildings.

Ink and Fineliner Artist Reference - 11 inch x 11 inch

Second, the 'Amber Cityscape' which I recreated still using the cross hatched fine liner effect however for the background I painted orange acrylic over white emulsion to give it a glossier look to contrast with the plain dull ink on the 'Green Cityscape'. Also instead of using paper I chose cardboard which created a very interesting texture to compliment the background. 

Emulsion, Acrylic and Fineliner Artist Reference - 10 inch x 10 inch

Finally, the 'Red Cityscape' which I recreated by printing an etching using a plastic etching plate and oil based ink. This was kept simple in both Cityscape and background to contrast with the more eye-catching two pieces in the trio. Therefore the etching was printed onto plain red sugar paper. 

Etching onto Sugar Paper Artist Reference - 8 inch x 8 inch

Nuts and Bolts Photo's

These are some of the photographs I took when experimenting with nuts and bolts. The first picture here is the one I worked from to create the pencil observation. This experimentation was a real inspiration to pursue in the use of nuts and bolts throughout my project, they are perfect miniature forms of Cityscapes when positioned in certain ways and create a futuristic vibe.

Photo worked from for Pencil Observation

'Birds-eye view' - Alternative Arrangement and Background